Category: Uncategorized
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How Community Banks Help Communities Bounce Back After Disasters
Disasters leave more than physical damage in their wake. Families are displaced, small businesses close their doors, and entire communities are left wondering how they will rebuild. Federal aid often arrives quickly, but it can only go so far. Once the initial response ends, there is often a gap between short-term relief and long-term recovery.…
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What a September Rate Cut Could Mean for Your Corporate Cash And Why You Should Prepare Now
August 2025: The Calm Before the Cut The Federal Reserve is widely expected to cut interest rates for the first time in over two years at its September 16–17 meeting, likely by 0.25% (25 basis points) (source: Federal Reserve). Fed officials have hinted that a larger cut is unlikely, especially after July’s hotter-than-expected producer price…
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CNote Recertifies as a B Corp: Reaffirming Our Commitment to Building a More Equitable Financial Future
We’re proud to announce that CNote has officially recertified as a B Corporation, once again meeting the rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency set by B Lab. This milestone reaffirms what we’ve always believed: financial innovation can be a force for good. Since our founding, we’ve been on a mission to…
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Impact Investing for High-Networth Portfolios: How to Align Fixed Income with Your Values
In today’s financial climate, high-net-worth (HNW) investors are looking for more than just returns. They want to make a difference. The question many are asking: Can fixed income, traditionally a conservative, performance-driven allocation, be a source of purpose? The answer is yes, through impact investing strategies that align fixed income with your values. HNW investors…
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How CDFI Lending Keeps Capital Moving: Impact Investing Through Fixed-Income Funds
When you invest in fixed income, you’re often looking for predictable income and lower volatility. But what if your fixed income allocation could also help families buy homes, small businesses expand, or communities build new infrastructure, all while aiming to generate returns? That’s exactly what happens when fixed-income funds are connected to Community Development Financial…
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The CDFI Difference: Underwriting with Community in Mind
By Tamra Thetford & Julia Phipps Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Loan Funds play a critical role in addressing systemic inequities in access to capital. By offering loans to underserved communities, small businesses, affordable housing developers, and nonprofits that traditional lenders often overlook, CDFIs help create jobs, support affordable housing, and promote economic justice. But…
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Investing in Healthcare Education in South Arkansas
In Arkadelphia, Arkansas, access to healthcare isn’t always guaranteed—and neither is access to the workforce needed to provide it. To address both gaps, Ouachita Baptist University (OBU) launched a full-track nursing program, one of only a few in the state, to strengthen the region’s pipeline of skilled healthcare professionals. But establishing a program of this…
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How It Works: Making Your Cash Work Harder With CNote’s Impact Cash® Program
In today’s environment, managing cash isn’t just about maximizing returns. Institutions are increasingly seeking ways to align idle funds with financial goals while creating meaningful outcomes in local communities. CNote’s Impact Cash® program provides a streamlined path to do just that with full insurance, flexibility, and visibility into how deposits support real-world change. What Is…
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How AI is Helping to Powering Mission-Aligned Deposits at CNote
In today’s evolving financial landscape, corporate treasurers and foundation leaders are under increasing pressure to make their deposits work harder not just for returns, but for alignment with organizational values. The rise of mission-aligned deposits are reshaping how cash is managed, enabling institutions to direct capital toward community finance, economic inclusion, and sustainable local growth…
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How First Southwest Bank Helped the Town of Ignacio Deliver Affordable Modular Homes for the Local Workforce
The town of Ignacio, Colorado, like many rural communities, has long struggled to meet the housing needs of its local workforce. In La Plata County, where Ignacio is located, the median home price hovers around $475,000—an unattainable figure for many working families. Renters, including young families and essential workers, are often priced out of homeownership,…